Because they were both taken in the first round of the 2004 Draft that produced three current starting NFL quarterbacks, Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning will always be linked together throughout their pro careers.

Although today will be only the third time in their careers - and the first since 2008 - they have gone head-to-head. the Giants Manning and the Steelers’ Roethlisberger have a lot in common.

Not just because they’ve got two Super Bowl titles on their resume, but more because of how they have kept their franchises among the league’s best for so long.

“I think you always kind of take pride in your draft class and guys who have done well,” says Manning. “You look at Ben and see two championships, played in three Super Bowls, been to some Pro Bowls. So I think you’re proud when other guys in your draft have done well and had success.

“But besides the fact of playing in three Super Bowls; that’s probably the only stat I know that he has,” says Eli, the first player taken in ‘04 - by San Diego - but quickly dealt to the Giants for Philiips Rivers is a pre-draft deal orchestrated by then Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi and Eli’s dad Archie.

Had that deal never worked out the Giants had been thinking of taking Roethlisberger instead.

“I don’t know if they would have taken me,” recalls Ben now. “We kind of thought that was an option and would have been excited and ready to go. Everything that happened was kind of crazy and I think that if you ask any of the three quarterbacks, I’m sure we’re all pretty happy with where we are.”

Manning says he didn’t know much about Ben prior to that draft, and hasn’t kept close watch on his progress since their teams play so infrequently. Roethlisberger, however, has followed Eli’s career closely.

“I think early on for me it was more wanting to do better than him. I don’t want to say animosity, but he was the No. 1 pick and I think as a guy that’s not picked number one or anytime someone is picked ahead of you, you want to beat that guy out,” admits Ben.

“As I’ve gotten older it’s more neat to see his success, to see him getting two Super Bowls because I think it just adds to the legacy of our draft class and all four quarterbacks, Matt Schaub, Philip, myself and Eli that were drafted there.

“I hope that we can play well enough that one day they talk about us as maybe the best quarterback draft class of all-time,” says Roethlisberger, whose biggest difference from Eli - off the field - has been the problems he’s been invovled in.

“I didn’t really know much about him (before the draft). It’s not like I was watching film on him, seeing what he was doing,” says Eli. “He was an athletic guy and a strong arm and obviously he’s done a great job of making plays and winning a lot of games.”

Especially with his penchant for leadng the Giants from behind in the fourth quarter for wins.

Roethlisberger has seen some similarities in their careers.

“I’d like to say that we both can make all of the throws,” says the Pittsburgh QB. “I don’t think Eli is quite as elusive as I am, but I think he is very slippery.

“I know that sounds kind of crazy, but he gets out of a lot, as we’ve seen in Super Bowls. He’s getting out of a lot of sacks and making plays down the field, keeping plays alive and extending them. I don’t think he gets enough credit for that. I think he deserves a lot more.”